Looking back: Day 1 (updated with new photos)

[pictures are courtesy of Ronna Nirmala, an aspiring journo AND photographer]

"How did you feel, getting married?"

"What is it like, married life?"

Those are the two questions I've been hearing post-Nov. 19. I've been answering with a single word, a nod, and a smile. So now let's have a look at question number 1: How did I feel that day?

Well, all vendors aside, Nov. 17-19 felt surreal to me. It began on Thursday, where everyone started to prepare my house for the Siraman and Midodareni the next day.

The giddiness and anxiety grew even bigger on Friday, when everyone gathered for my Javanese rituals. I prepared myself some text to read for the Sungkeman, but still, the lump in my throat was so big, I couldn't say the words clearly.

It was a modest celebration, really. After I was bathed, I stayed in my room getting my hair and makeup done for Midodareni. I heard laughters from outside, when my parents did the Dodol Dawet ritual where they sold Es Cincau to the guests with fake money. In Javanese tradition, it's believed to attract and symbolize that people will come flocking to the wedding party.

As dusk settled, Bangun's family arrived in my house for Midodareni. Correct me if I'm wrong, but in Javanese, this ritual symbolizes the night where angels come down from heaven to guard the bride. The groom and his family, except his parents, visit the bride's house to check if she's still in good health.

However, the bride cannot go out of her room and only female relatives of the groom can check on her. They also delivered the Seserahan boxes. The groom is not allowed to see his bride, nor is he allowed to eat and drink anything but mineral water. The latter is believed to prevent him from getting poisoned by any unhappy family member.

At this point, I felt like a school girl before a big date, except that I couldn't see my date. I kept asking anyone how Bangun looked like and wanted so much to get out.

But of course I had to wait for another day to see him. After everyone was gone that night, it became even more surreal that in the next 24 hours I would be married and having the reception. Just when I'd thought I was under the spotlight for a whole day, it hit me that Saturday would be an even bigger day.

Daily ramble: Seven days before

D minus seven.

I bet the next week is gonna be the longest seven days of my life. Looking back, though, it's a bit creepy how one full year went by so quick. At the beginning, some people might be asking why did it have to take a year for us to prepare a wedding? Why not hurry, because some of the elders believe that it's bad luck to be engaged for too long a time.

Well, I'm glad we had that full year. We had all the time in the world to research, compare prices and quality for each vendor, and most importantly of course we had more time to fill the piggy bank.

And now the final week's here. Let's revisit some check list, shall we.

1. Invitation - Done. Again, do not go to Atmaraya for invitation. I'm just glad we're done with them.
2. Wedding favors - Done. All we gotta do now is to put the thank-you cards to the souvenir pouches.
3. Rings - Done, of course.
4. Kebaya for midodareni - Went for the final fitting session last night. Man, it's pretty.
5. Decorative photos - We've picked which ones, now Hilman is taking care of it.
6. Honeymoon - All set and ready to go.
7. Seserahan for Bangun - Done. I'm giving him a set of black suit including the formal shirt, pants, shoes and ties; batik shirt; toilettries; a set of towels; a bottle of perfume; baju koko, sarong and peci Aceh; and a basket of fruits. They're currently at the House of Seserahan. Do your best, Tante Mira.
8. A home for the wedding - still :|, but my mom has turned my room at home into a room for two.

Last night I had dinner with my sister, mom, and Bangun's sister, mom and sister-in-law in Kemang, after our kebaya fitting session. We chatted for ours and it hit me right there and then; I'm gonna have a very extended family in  a week! And I'm glad that despite everything, they're fun to be with.

Can't wait for the late-night card games at Seroja!

At the far end of the plank

Can you hear the wedding bells already?

Well of course there won't be any, but good God people, it's less than a month away! Invitations are labeled, the suntings and beskaps are packed, the menu's set, you get the gist.

First off let me tell you, I love the rings. They turned out to look exactly like how I'd imagined it would. I think it's the only vendor that could meet 100 percent of my expectation. Kudos to Kaliem Blok M Square.




Pardon the hairy fingers.

 So, rings are done, invitations are also done. There's a huge drama behind, which requires a whole other post to describe. In a nutshell, Atmaraya produces good-quality invitations, but their management and customer service is beyond horrible. Not worth the satisfying result.

Favors are also done. We are giving away a set of coasters to the guests, nicely packed in a small tulle bag. Sadly, I just realised I didn't know the name of that store in Asemka, but the person to call is Mbak Dian at 0815 8677 9257. Great service, pretty packaging, and el cheapo.

What's not so el cheapo, however, is the honeymoon budget. Seems like everyone is vaycay-ing in romantic resorts in Bali, cos almost every villa we had our eyes for were full. Thankfully, there's this one villa in Seminyak that offers what we want, only with a price higher than our budget. But it's available, so.

Anyway, we're still looking for some place to stay at Gili Trawangan. In addition, I have to have fresh water running in the villa instead of sea water, which I heard is the case for most villas in Gili T. Tuan Putri nggak bisa lah ya mandi air asin gitu.

Another progress is for Bangun's seserahan. In the boxes, he will find:

- Batik shirts
- A set of suit, formal pants, formal shirt and a couple of ties (for this, I was finally able to drag him to shop at Topshop and co!)
- Acehnese peci and sarung
- Baju koko
- Formal shoes
- A set of towel
- Perfume

So far, only baju koko that's still unchecked. Any idea where to find one with nice design? I find baju kokos look all the same in department stores.

With this progress, I'm pretty confident we're all set for the 19th. Beware for more nonsense posts like this one, though.

Progress Report: Skip When Bored

Well, hello, it's been a while. Worry not, because I'm still in one piece despite the fact that the wedding is in less than 100 days.

Let's take a look at the updates, shall we.

1.Seserahan
After a while, buying things for seserahan did get more fun. Here's what we've got so far:
1. Kebaya + Kain batik
2. Bedsheets
3. Body care products + a set of towels
4. Black dress + make-up set
5. Baju muslim/mukenah
6. A pair of shoes + everyday clutch
7. Fruits/Sweets

2.Uniform
DONE. In a nutshell, being a true Sumatran wedding, it's going to be colorful. I'm gonna wear dark red, both mothers are wearing dark green, sisters will be in navy blue, sisters-in-law in dark brown, relatives in purple and gold, and tosca green for my friends. Can't wait to see them in pictures.

3.Honeymoon
Got the tickets for Jakarta-Bali and Bali-Lombok at quite a good deal with (hopefully) a reliable airline. However, due to the schedule, we have to fly with Wings Air for the Bali-Lombok trip. Wish us luck. The homework now is to pick the best accommodation.

4. Invitation
Finally went to Pasar Tebet last weekend, and once Runi the Designer-Slash-Maho is done with the final design, we can have it printed.

5.Band
We still don't have a wedding singer. I repeat, we still don't have a wedding singer.

I think that's about it for now. This is such a flat-toned post so I will probably be back soon with more drama. On an unrelated note, can I just say that I may be growing an inevitable hatred toward my boss?

This is just to cross something off the big list

Back when I still couldn't care less about marriage, I always thought I'd want a wedding because of one thing; to have seserahan handed over to me. I mean, tell me if there is any better tradition than to ask for clothes, shoes, bags, and whatever it is you want to your fiance.

Now, as November's getting closer, surprisingly my enthusiasm to look for seserahan is nearing rock bottom. It's somehow complicated and dreadful to think that I have to buy all those things, have them wrapped, only to be ripped open where? In my room. Where maybe only ten people will see.

Don't get me wrong, I love to shop. I can be very depressed if I don't see any mall for a straight few weeks. It's just that..I don't know what I want. I feel that seserahan must be something I'll remember for good, not just any gifts. I think there's a pressure in the idea, and that's why I've been back and forth in deciding what I want.

However, after a few alterations here and there, here's what I and Bangun came up with for his seserahan gifts for me, and what we can cross off our list so far, thanks to Jakarta Great Sale:

1. Kebaya + Kain batik
2. Bedsheets
3. Body care products + A set of towels
4. Black dress + Make-up set
5. Baju Muslim/Mukenah
6. A pair of shoes + Everyday clutch
7. Fruits/Sweets

This month should be the best time to buy the rest, since the sale is on. Yet I just don't have that same...spark I had when thinking about seserahan a few years back. Rasanya tuh uangnya mendingan dipake buat beli kasur King Koil atau jamban Toto atau kompor Modena.

Uh-oh am I growing up and becoming a boring ibu-ibu?